Two Injured After Semi Crashes Into Cafe

Indiana State Police troopers and Sullivan County emergency agencies responded to a 911 call at 10:38 a.m. reporting a tractor-trailer had crashed into the cafe.

According to ISP Public Information Officer Sgt. Joe Watts, a blue, 2002, Kenworth tractor pulling an empty coal hauling trailer and driven by 63-year-old Gary Nash of Sullivan, was eastbound on State Road 54 and turned south onto State Road 159.

The tractor-trailer traveled approximately 100 feet south and suddenly veered to the right traveling off the west edge of the roadway and striking the café.

The injured café patrons were Madge Booker, 81, of Sullivan and Gloria Bixler, 66, of Dugger.

Both were treated for complaints of pain at Sullivan County Community Hospital.
Nash was taken to Sullivan County Community Hospital for further investigation into the possibility that a medical episode may have contributed to the crash, Watts said.

"There were no early indications of defects found with the tractor-trailer combination after an on-scene inspection by troopers. The tractor-trailer was operating under the name of Ajax Trucking from Sullivan.

No citations were issued to Nash and drugs and/or alcohol were not a factor," Watts stated in a news release.